Probe Launched In Manhattan Beach Following ‘Shots Fired’ Report

MANHATTAN BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Dozens of police officers descended on a Manhattan Beach community following a report of shots fired on Saturday morning.

The incident was reported to about 3:30 a.m. from a caller residing in a duplex in the 3300 block of Bayview Drive. The caller reportedly told police that they had heard two shots fired in a downstairs unit.

Upon arriving on scene, authorities tried to make contact with an individual inside that home but were unsuccessful.

They subsequently roped off a five-block radius and established a command center, searching the area both on the ground and in the air.

SWAT teams from El Segundo and Manhattan Beach were dispatched to the scene and entered the home in question. They, however, did not find anybody inside, according to KCAL9’s Joy Benedict.

Several homes in the immediate vicinity of the home were evacuated while other residents were being told to stay indoors, Benedict reported.

“This doesn’t happen here so I don’t think it’s very concerning but something did happen that they’re very concerned about but this never happens here. Manhattan Beach is the safest place I could ever live,” said resident Emily Vanderstoep.

“This is very unusual for Manhattan Beach. I’ve been working here for nineteen and a half years. I’ve been a member of SWAT and the last SWAT call that I can remember was 2005,” added Sgt. Paul Ford of the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Additionally, Benedict reported that Manhattan Avenue and Bayview Drive were closed from 31st to 37th streets as a precaution.